Unofficial results showed the levy passed by a margin of 62 percent of votes, according to Lorain County Board of Election. There were 3,892 votes for the levy and 2,359 votes against the levy.

The levy will cost property owners an additional $298 per year for each $100,000 of a home's value.

Superintendent John Kuhn said the district's first step is thanking the community for its support over the last few months.

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"We were facing a lot of serious setbacks if this levy failed," he said. "I want to give a big thank you to the community for supporting the public schools. We have great trust in the community and thank them for supporting us."

More than 300 people came to the first public meeting to explain the levy. Such meetings usually only drew 30 to 50 people for past levies.

This is the first time Midview voters have passed a levy since 1993.

If the levy failed, the district would have cut $2.3 million from its budget by shortening school days, eliminate sports and extracurriculars, limiting school transportation, laying off staff and reducing to state minimum requirements.

Midview has lost nearly $1.3 million in state funding in recent years.

The district had been able to avoid cuts previously because of stimulus money that recently ran out.

Without the new money, the changes would have started Feb. 18, according to a levy campaign flier.

A five-hour school day would be instituted for kindergarten to fourth grades, beginning at 7:25 a.m. and ending at 12:25 p.m.

Students in grades fifth to 12th would of attend classes for five and a half hours, from 8:25 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.

School buildings would only be open for 40 minutes before and after school and busing would be reduced to only students within a two-mile radius.

Kuhn said the receptiveness from the community made a big help in the levy's passing.

"There's a direct connection to the community and having a strong public school," he said.